5th Annual Mark Flugge Memorial Jazz Concert

The annual tribute to dearly departed Columbus jazz legend Mark Flugge returns this week through the sponsorship of the Mark Flugge Memorial Fund and Capital University, and will include a guest appearance by acclaimed pianist Bill Dobbins. The Fifth Annual Mark Flugge Memorial Jazz Concert takes place at Mees Hall on the Capital University campus in Bexley on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 3pm. Admission is free. Following the format of previous concerts, the first half of the concert will present solo and small group performances, including the awarding of the 2018 Capital University Mark Flugge Jazz Award. The second half of the concert will see the debut of the Mark Flugge Memorial Big Band, led by Rob Parton and assisted by Vaughn Wiester, featuring Dobbins as the guest piano soloist. The set will be recorded for future release and will share top-shelf arrangements of Flugge material. The concert also serves as the CD release party for Michael Cox’s new CD, Compassion. Keep reading for info on more local appearances by Dobbins and full concert details from the Flugge Memorial Fund.

Bill Dobbins will remain in Columbus on Monday the 22nd for two additional performances. At 3pm, Dobbins will present a lecture-recital entitled “Thelonious Monk: The Composer as Improviser” at the Huntington Recital Hall at Capital University. This event is free and open to the public. At 7:30pm, Dobbins will join the Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra as a special guest for their weekly show at Clintonville Woman’s Club. Admission is $10 for this always entertaining big band extravaganza.

Fifth Annual Mark Flugge Memorial Jazz Concert

Dear friends: Please join us on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 3pm at Mees Hall, Capital University, for the 5th Annual Memorial Concert!

This year’s concert features guest piano soloist Bill Dobbins with the Mark Flugge Memorial Big Band, led by Rob Parton, and assisted by Vaughn Wiester. The Big Band’s performance will be recorded and included in Lisa Jelle’s next CD in the Mark Flugge Remembered series (release date 2019). Arrangements by Bill Dobbins (“Around Every Corner”), Bob Larson (“Action Planet”, “Feeling, Not Words”), Kim Pensyl (“Beatrice, the Cat”), Paul Ferguson (“Dear Bill”), and Mark Lopeman (“February’s Promise”) will close out the concert’s second half.

The first half opens with pianist Abhik Mazumder’s premiere of his composition, “Mockingbird.” The 2018 Capital University Mark Flugge Jazz Award will be awarded to Capital University junior saxophone major Steven Sinclair. Capital University senior Andy Frederick’s arrangement, “Flugge Jazz Fantasy” for flute quartet, will be premiered by PANdemonium4 (Kimberlee Goodman, Lindsey Goodman, Lisa Jelle, Alison Sincoff Brown). They will be joined by Andy Woodson on bass, and Chris Carmean on percussion. Spectrum, the Capital Faculty Jazz Combo, will perform an arrangement by Stan Smith and Roger Hamilton of “Erika Kristen.”

Our concert is also the CD release party for Capital University Saxophone Professor Michael Cox’s new CD, Compassion! It includes Flugge compositions “Compassion for All,” “Yarneck,” “Familiarity,” and “Soiree.” Other performers are bassist Buster Williams, pianist/organist Gary Versace, and drummer Matt Wilson. Recorded in New York City, mixed in Panama City.

This free concert celebrates the life and musical/educational legacy of jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator Mark Flugge (1962-2014), and is sponsored by the Mark Flugge Memorial Fund and Capital University. Donations to the nonprofit Mark Flugge Memorial Fund 501c3 are gratefully accepted by Lisa Jelle, Director, and Erika Flugge Moore, Assistant Director. We hope to see you on the 21st!